When Brazil’s Federal Court of Accounts (TCU ) became Chair of the Capacity Building Committee (CCC ) of the Organization of Latin America and Caribbean Supreme Audit Institutions (OLACEFS ) in the beginning of 2016, it established a bold and broad agenda focused on strengthening the Committee, with a view to interinstitutional cooperation and professional development in every Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) in the region. This pragmatic approach reflects the need to broaden the range of initiatives aiming to build capacities and increase professional technical skills.

Many educational activities have been carried out this year, in accordance with guidelines from previous years combined with strategic initiatives introduced by the TCU’s candidacy to chair the Committee. These activities include more than 20 eLearning courses, coordinated audits in various phases, a high-level seminar on Information Technology and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a three-day innovation workshop for technical staff of all regional SAIs, and the publication of a diagnosis of regional capacity-building needs based on a robust methodology and extensive SAI participation.

For the remainder of the 2016 to 2018 period, the CCC plans to provide continuity to longtime activities, but also to undertake completely new and innovative initiatives that will demand considerable financial and human resources.

Due to its strategic importance, the CCC recognizes the need to count on contributions from partner institutions, so that the capacity-building plan best captures opportunities and meets needs for the region. In this regard, the proposals presented herein are still subject to suggestions, refinements, and further detailing, and may even add new initiatives and programs.

By publishing and sharing a first version of this document with strategic partners, the CCC sees an opportunity to thus improve the proposals, incorporate innovate ideas, and maximize the impact of efforts by identifying synergies and complementary initiatives in the development of solutions that share common objectives.

In practical terms, this document is therefore open to contributions, for a limited time, in order to incorporate suggestions, improvements, and recommendations from partners within and outside of the CCC in a timely fashion.

Specifically, the CCC Chair requests feedback and contributions from CCC members, other SAIs and OLACEFS committee, other INTOSAI regions, the CBC, IDI, and KSC and other INTOSAI bodies, and cooperating institutions such as the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), and the World Bank, among others.

The deadline for receiving these contributions is October 26, 2016, which will allow the CCC Chair to publish a second, definitive version of the Plan in time for the upcoming INTOSAI Congress (INCOSAI) in early December.

Please find the above-mentioned plan here: OLACEFS Capacity Building Plan 2016-2018